To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first Black Barbie, Mattel designer Bill Greening recreated a doll influenced and inspired by the original. This special edition included a second outfit, a sleek and glittery 1980s-style suit. His goal was to honor this milestone and the significant contribution that Black Barbie made to the doll line and its history. The gown, accessories, and features of the new doll are similar to, yet not an exact replica of, the original created by Kitty Black Perkins, whom Greening describes as a mentor.

The concept of a Black Barbie emerged soon after the release of caucasian Barbie. In the late 1960s, a handful of…